Israel has intensified its military operations in Rafah, with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announcing that the ongoing conflict has displaced over a million civilians from the city in southern Gaza. The military campaign aims to target Hamas, with Israel reportedly employing careful tactics to reduce harm to the local population, amidst international concerns regarding civilian safety.

The city of Rafah, which borders Egypt, was home to approximately 1.4 million people before the Israeli army began urging evacuation earlier in May. Many inhabitants had initially sought refuge in Rafah following the outbreak of war between Israel and Hamas in October. Defense Minister Gallant indicated that operations would continue to expand, involving more ground and aerial forces in a bid to exert control over the territory and eliminate threats from Hamas militants.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has expressed commitment to allowing evacuation efforts to proceed, yet the ongoing military action is raising significant humanitarian concerns. The spiraling death toll, now reported at 35,000, intensifies global scrutiny of Israel's military strategy and the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza, highlighting the challenges in balancing military objectives with civilian safety.